Avarice (2 page)

Overall, everyone seemed happy. This is what he lived for; not the boardrooms or clandestine meetings where crooks who weren’t friends asked favors with nothing to barter. What could they give him when everything he needed was here?

He loosened his tie, stopped thinking about business and when the song changed, laughed at the revelers enthusiasm. Selange served as the hype woman. She led the partygoers jumping in the air, hands waving and singing, “
La mano arriba…cintura sola
…”

Alfonzo’s legs moved of their own fruition. Twisting feet, raised arms and with a bopping head he joined the fun. “
Da media vuelta…danza kuduro…no te canses ahora…”

This was his joint, a party classic by Don Omar that got crowds on their feet in the clubs.
He was spotted as he danced in their direction. “
Oi…oi…oi…oi
…”

Vincent’s eyes were a brilliant blue as he darted straight to his father’s legs. Alfonzo caught the wet boy like a soccer ball. “Hola hijo…somebody misses papi, eh?”

The others began to whoop in unison. “Dad’s back!”

Alfonzo felt like a celebrity when they converged on him. He didn’t have enough hands to hug each child, so he tousled heads and gave Sal a pound. Damn the boy had shot up there in height!

During the boisterous reunion, his eyes traveled to his wife approaching. Man, did she look fine in that bikini. She sauntered forward with a sly grin. That smile…oooh…and the gleam in her eyes is what he needed to see after days apart. She didn’t say anything, instead she leaned over the children’s heads, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him like they were having dirty sex. The children giggled and someone said, “Ew!” But Alfonzo ignored the silly comment because his babe’s kiss tasted damn sweet.

When she detached from his mouth, her lips were wet. “We missed you honey.”

Fatigue had fled on musical notes. Standing on home turf, he recognized his blessings. Promises were kept because every day he told his woman how he felt. “Te extrañé más, nena.” His eyes were smiling, yet sad because they’d only have a night together before she departed for Italy in the morning. He held her waist and they walked to the lounge chairs. He sat and pulled his wife down to his lap. But then of course the twins climbed on board as Allie and Sal started talking at once about what the other did when he was gone.

“Really, all that?” Alfonzo asked in amusement.

Anita called, “Viente…viente all of you, let’s give papa a moment. I know he is hungry, help me with our surprise.”

They scampered away like good soldiers and fell in step with the woman who was like a second mother. As Anita passed Alfonzo took her hand and she stopped. “Gracias Anita,” he said gratefully.

She waved him off. “De nada.” Then she led the band of four inside to give him a moment to sit.

Alfonzo put his hand over his wife’s, leaned back to the soft bamboo and stared at the shimmering pool. “I’ve cleared my schedule to spend time with the kids, besides Christmas is around the corner and so is Anita’s birthday. I have a few more presents to get.”

“Me too,” Selange said as she caressed his hair. “You could use a rest.”

“Yeah,
so true.” Anyway, Giuseppe was more than capable to oversee the family’s international interests. Alfonzo didn’t burden his wife with business, especially not the criminal stuff. The ordeal in Africa had left loose ends. Nico had uncovered Gamba’s buyers were. They were jewelers and apparently one was Seth Meyer’s brother, an unlikely coincidence, he thought not. He ordered their deaths, but only Nico would be able to torture information out of the brother. Alfonzo needed to know who in the syndicate assisted in their diamond smuggling ring and fed Gamba information about his family. Somebody connected had to have helped.

Selange’s hand slipped between his legs. The chica started a fire and set an inferno when she rubbed him down. “I have a treat for you after you eat,” she cooed.

“Yeah?”

The string bikini top barely contained her breasts. They appeared to want freedom as she leaned to his chest and kissed his neck. “Um-hum. You’ll love it.”

Alfonzo experienced a sudden pulsing sensation that ran along his groin. Goddammit, his dick wanted out!

He clamped Selange’s waist, holding her immobile as the patio doors slid open. “Sientarse, don’t move. You do this shit to me all the time,” he spoke in her ear.

She displayed feigned innocence. “Moi?”

The children were singing and it appeared Vincent was lip-syncing. “
Happy Anniversary…Happy Anniversary…mom and dad
!”

Alfonzo smiled. The children made a delicious white chocolate three tier cake. On top were bunny figures. He laughed because Angelina loved bunnies and he figured she must’ve made the executive decision with tears. Selange started to stand when Alfonzo
had clapped, but his hand discreetly clamped her thigh and the pressure settled her ass right back down.

Oh, Allie’s nosy butt might spy the noticeable bulge and embarrass his ass by asking, “What’s that?”

Nah, he wasn’t letting that happen. Besides, she was too young for sex education. Hell, he’d yet to have the talk with Sal, but he would soon.

Selange smirked. “Happy Anniversary honey.”

“Yes it is,” he replied as Anita began cutting the cake. In a conspiratorial tone he told his naughty wife, “You’re paying for this big-time nena.
Esta noche tu culo es mío!”

       Sal presented his dad with a large slice of cake. Alfonzo dug in. He chuckled when Selange’s ass didn’t budge until he gave her clearance. Yeah he looked forward to making the sexy troublemaker pay!

CHAPTER TWO

Shanda marched through the foyer clutching yet another vase of flowers. “This mess has to stop!” she said as she looked around for a space to place Giuseppe’s lame attempt at wooing her back into his trap. What the hell didn’t he understand? They were done, she wasn’t taking him back, he hadn’t changed and flowers wouldn’t blind her to that fact.

Surprisingly, Sophie hadn’t tried to influence her decision and had made her stay the equivalent of home. She actually
loved living in a large house with domestic help and the freedom to do what she enjoyed.

Sophie
and Amelda doted on Carlo and most of the time he was in their care as Shanda baked to fill the orders growing by the week. Sophie’s connections threw open doors Shanda could not have entered without her assistance. The wonderful thing about doing what you love is the reward comes from within. Besides Carlo, she had something she created and nobody could steal her joy, not even Giuseppe. He could send hundreds of flowers crawl and beg and she still wouldn’t take him back. She had enough of men walking all over her heart. Neither Giuseppe’s money nor his pitiful pleas would convince her to compromise her dignity. Alfonzo respected and adored Selange. Their relationship had gone through turmoil and they were tighter than ever. That’s what she wanted from a man. Anything less was called
settling
.

Mafioso…Don…hell not even the King of France was worth adapting that ‘maybe he’ll change’ mentality which afflicted many women. Yes, she loved Giuseppe, but she loved herself more. Single mom; nothing’s wrong with that, besides Don Giuseppe Dichenzo aka Geo the God could see his children any time he wanted. She’d never run off with his
kids. Anyway, she found her calling, baking and making money. Yes, S&S had become a success.

Shanda plopped the floral arrangement on the table
and ran to answer her cell. The device was atop a cushion on the sofa, waiting for her to plunk down for a much needed break. “Hey Selange,” she said excitedly. “Are you here yet?”

“Yes, I’ll be there in an hour.”

“Cool. I can’t wait until you taste my new recipe. I got inspired by honey.”

Selange laughed. “Honey…really?”

“You’re always calling Alfonzo your honey. So I named a treat Miele di Sela. In Italian it means Sela’s Honey.”

“Wow, a pastry…named after me…thanks that’s a first. I’ll take whatever I can get.” Selange paused. “I don’t need to taste it though; I already know it’ll be delicious
because you’re talented in the kitchen.”

“Yeah.” Shanda chuckled
and then teased. “Betty Crocker you’re not. Somebody had to cook when we had those sleepovers.  How in the hell does someone burn pancakes?”

Selange laughed. She hadn’t taken offense. “I acknowledge my shortcomings Shanda. I never said I was perfect, did I?”

“No girl, you never did.”

“See you soon Pastry Diva, love you.”

Shanda’s response was genuine. “I love you too.”

***

Selange motioned for the driver to pull over when she saw the bright green awning. Her Italian improved but she hadn’t mastered the language. She could decipher many of the words and hold a decent conversation though which impressed her brother-in-law, especially when he tried to talk shit and thought she didn’t understand.

This business with him and Shanda had become a nuisance. Alfonzo had to listen to the man whine about Shanda while Selange also endured the tirades from her best friend about Giuseppe’s antics. They were both exhausted with being in the middle and holding the hands of stubborn people
. They already had too much on their plates.

Alfonzo is who family bothered every time things weren’t going their way. Sergio and Lucia’s relationship had Matteo up in arms
. That type of nonsense he dealt with regularly. Then Jessica being pregnant and Alfonzo’s Aunt asking him to lean on Emilio to force him to marry her daughter was further silliness. Oh, but the whopper of the century is Maria moving in with Bruno. The woman upped and left to live with a man in another country and that alone was devastating because Alfonzo was devastated. Being an only child he was very close to his mom. Although he’d never admit the truth, Maria had spoiled his ass, though.

Alfonzo played it cool, that’s what he does when he’s really pissed. Work-outs became longer; his fuse was short and at night he literally had conversations to voice his displeasure during sleep. The pretense of acceptance he displayed to everyone shattered during the quiet. But, man oh man if anybody heard the stuff he considered doing to Bruno, they’d cringe.

She had to take some of the pressure off of his shoulders, not to mention avoid potential disasters caused by feuding family; had to step in. That Nico was another matter. His secret affair with Bianca was the most disturbing simply because she’d been on both sides of the fence. Her heart bled for Ari. She had gauged whether her husband was aware of the situation during a subtle inquiry and when he said, “Babe, stay the fuck out of Nico’s business,” she had her answer right there. He knew all along didn’t he?

It was difficult sitting on her ass while Nico persisted with the duplicity because Ari had become a true friend. The worse part about the situation is Nico was too. Ah, damn when she thought of the situation she was in a horrible position. Ultimately, she had to heed her husband’s advice and stay clear of the entire affair.

However, with the business of the women she had to step outside of her shell and flex her muscles to ease discourse, at least on some matters. For the sanity of her husband and for peace at night, holding these women accountable for their behavior was the only way.

The sign read: A WOMAN’S TOUCH.

How cheesy, Selange scoffed when the bodyguard’s piled out first and then she followed. The men Alfonzo assigned to her security spoke very little English; she mostly conversed in Spanish. Rico and Lazar were their names and that’s all she wanted to know. There’s a time when she had firsthand knowledge about the guards. Where they were from, whether they had families, personal things conversation reveals. But, she possessed a caring heart and when those she’d come to see each day, share jokes and smiles were killed that heart broke with guilt. So, she stayed distant and wore thick armor to prevent penetrating trauma. If she had an option, she’d take Alfonzo and the children away from this lifestyle. They’d live on an island without fear of retribution from unseen enemies seeking their death. Oh, but there are dreams that no matter how much you wish will never come true. Alfonzo had become too powerful, too visible in the syndicate. Her husband’s only option was to rule. The position bequeathed could not be returned to the deceased. Alfonzo’s father Luzo Palazzo handed his son a legacy of death. But, Selange refused to let her husband journey alone. He hadn’t chosen this path, but with dignity and fierce determination they would travel the road until aged.

Concrete Don the media nicknamed Alfonzo, as well as El Lobo Adecuado, which means The Suited Wolf. The media was very careful in their depiction of her husband. They were not stupid. Anything printed which suggested he committed any illegal acts without proof is slander. That’s a defamation lawsuit which he’d likely win!